Sports Teams Commemorate 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks

Major League Baseball and various sports teams, including the New York Mets and New York Yankees, paused operations Friday to honor the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. They conducted on-field tributes, special programs, community service projects, and other observances.

In New York, MLB and the Mets joined forces with the nonprofit organization 9/11 Day to host a meal-packing event at Citi Field under the UNITE for Good initiative. This event was held near the original site of the attacks.

Later in the day, MLB players, managers, coaches, and umpires donned caps with a ‘We Shall Never Forget’ side patch to commemorate the occasion. The Toronto Blue Jays wore caps featuring both the Canadian and American flags, while the Yankees and Mets sported first-responder caps with their team logos at Yankee Stadium.

During a ceremony before the Yankees and Mets game at Yankee Stadium, members of the 2001 New York Yankees stood on the field, marking the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Ahead of the game’s first pitch, Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole joined manager Aaron Boone to lay a wreath at the 9/11 memorial in Monument Park.

The national anthem was performed by opera tenor James Valenti, followed by a rendition of ‘God Bless America’ by Lee Greenwood. A giant flag covered the outfield during these performances. As part of the tribute, ballparks across the majors featured customized base jewels and official lineup cards, and a league-wide moment of silence was observed.

Shortly after the tragic events of September 11, Shea Stadium became a hub for relief efforts, where players and volunteers loaded trucks with supplies heading to Ground Zero. Baseball returned to New York on September 21 with Mike Piazza’s eighth-inning home run lifting the Mets to victory over the Atlanta Braves. Six weeks later, President George W. Bush threw the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees ultimately lost the title defense to the Arizona Diamondbacks in seven games.

Boston College and Rutgers also participated in commemorating the 25th anniversary during their Friday night football game. Rutgers players wore red jerseys and white helmets with No. 37, incorporating the American flag inside the number to honor the 37 alumni who tragically lost their lives 25 years ago. ‘Never Forget’ was emblazoned on the side of the Scarlet Knights’ pants.

Boston College’s uniforms included a red bandanna design on the sleeves, chest logo, and helmet stripe for the 13th annual Red Bandanna Game, honoring Welles Crowther, a former lacrosse player who heroically rescued people during the attacks. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on September 8, 2026.